Saudi CP dies

Published June 16th, 2012 - 11:56 GMT

Saudi Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, a half brother of King Abdullah and the long-serving interior minister of the kingdom, died on Saturda

Saudi Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, a half brother of King Abdullah and the long-serving interior minister of the kingdom, died on Saturday, state television announced. The 79-year-old Prince Nayef, who has recently left the kingdom for medical treatment abroad, had "died outside the kingdom," said Al-Ekhbariyah Television, quoting a statement from the royal court. According to media reports, he was hospitalized in Switzerland last May for medical reasons.

He was appointed Crown Prince last October after the death of his brother, Sultan bin Abdul Aziz.

Nayef bin Abdel Aziz, born in 1933 in Taif. He was appointed Governor of Riyadh and served in this position for 20 years before becoming deputy interior minister in 1970 and interior minister in 1975.